As part of a broader strategy to tackle the fentanyl crisis, the Trump administration has authorized increased secret drone flights over Mexico aimed at locating illegal drug laboratories, according to U.S. intelligence sources.
C.I.A. Increases Covert Drone Operations in Mexico to Combat Fentanyl Crisis
C.I.A. Increases Covert Drone Operations in Mexico to Combat Fentanyl Crisis
Intensified drone surveillance targets drug labs amid escalating U.S.-Mexico efforts against cartels.
The CIA's drone program, which originated during the Biden administration, has gained momentum under President Trump, who favors more rigorous actions against Mexican drug traffickers. CIA Director John Ratcliffe announced that these drone missions serve as an initial measure to enhance surveillance capabilities against drug cartels.
The operational framework does not currently permit the use of drones for offensive strikes; rather, the intelligence gathered is shared with Mexican authorities. U.S. officials acknowledge that the drones operate well within Mexican territory, seeking to locate laboratories that produce fentanyl, a substance responsible for a surge in overdose deaths in the U.S.
In response to U.S. concerns, the Mexican government has committed additional troops to its borders, but U.S. officials insist that more robust actions are necessary to dismantle fentanyl production facilities. Experts suggest that the chemical emissions from these labs make them identifiable from aerial surveillance, potentially aiding in the fight against the ongoing drug crisis that has claimed numerous lives on both sides of the border.
The operational framework does not currently permit the use of drones for offensive strikes; rather, the intelligence gathered is shared with Mexican authorities. U.S. officials acknowledge that the drones operate well within Mexican territory, seeking to locate laboratories that produce fentanyl, a substance responsible for a surge in overdose deaths in the U.S.
In response to U.S. concerns, the Mexican government has committed additional troops to its borders, but U.S. officials insist that more robust actions are necessary to dismantle fentanyl production facilities. Experts suggest that the chemical emissions from these labs make them identifiable from aerial surveillance, potentially aiding in the fight against the ongoing drug crisis that has claimed numerous lives on both sides of the border.
